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Neighbors, staff clash over bank ATM on North Beach corner; Planning Commission continues decision to Nov. 16
Summary
Planning staff recommended denying a proposed First Republic ATM vestibule at 222 Columbus Ave, citing overconcentration of ATMs and loss of active retail frontage; bank and building owner said the spot is ADA-constrained and underserved by bank ATMs. Commissioners voted to continue the item to Nov. 16 for redesign and alternate-location review.
Planning staff recommended against a conditional-use authorization for a small, enclosed First Republic ATM vestibule proposed at the northwest ‘Gore’ corner of Columbus, Pacific and Kearny avenues in North Beach, but the project’s backers asked for more time to rework location and design.
Staff rationale: April Lehi of the Planning Department told the commission that the department had surveyed the area and found a large number of existing outdoor ATMs, including many unpermitted machines, and concluded that “an ATM vestibule in this location is neither necessary nor desirable for the neighborhood” and would displace potential active retail at a prominent corner.
Sponsor arguments: Counsel for First Republic asked the commission to approve the vestibule, saying the bank’s neighborhood branch cannot install an ADA-compliant machine at its Stockton/Jackson location because of steep slopes. First Republic’s representative said the East Side of Columbus is “underserved by bank ATMs” and that a secure, glass-enclosed vestibule with lighting and cameras would improve safety and foot traffic.
Property owner Scott Robertson said leasing the small corner space to First Republic allowed him to subsidize other ground-floor tenants (a bakery, an artist gallery and a florist) that had been difficult to retain; he described the corner as an otherwise underused, noisy, four-lane intersection.
Commission action: Facing sharply divided views — including testimony from neighborhood groups opposing the loss of a prominent retail corner — commissioners voted to continue the item to Nov. 16 to allow staff and the applicant to explore alternate interior locations within the building and to refine design and mitigation options.
Next steps: Staff will work with First Republic and the owner on potential alternative interior locations or design revisions and return on Nov. 16 with options for commission review. The continuance preserves the sponsor’s ability to seek approval but asks for a clearer demonstration that the vestibule won’t undermine ground-floor retail in Broadway/North Beach.
